1 believed dead in Crestwood house explosion, fire; natural gas is suspected cause
One person is believed to have died in a suspected gas explosion and fire at a house in southwest suburban Crestwood, Illinois.
Crestwood Fire Chief Jonathan Newton said crews were called to the 14100 block of South Kenneth Court shortly after 2 p.m.
CBS SkyWatch was over the scene, which showed the home reduced to smoking tinder. Debris from the apparent explosion were scattered across the yards, driveways and roofs of the homes on either side.
Newton said a 76-year-old man lived alone at the home and was home at the time of the explosion. He said they believe he died in the explosion and fire, and their rescue operations have now switched to a recovery effort.
There appeared to be a small structure, possibly a garage, in the home's backyard that was less damaged. A fence shared with a neighbor had been knocked over.
Cell phone video shot by neighbors showed flames shooting from the wreckage after the explosion.
"I thought something fell on my roof. My house just kind of went — it shook, it just sort of, out and in," said Donna O'Keefe.
Neighbors said they felt the shaking and heard the explosion from several blocks away.
"I was home at about 2 o'clock, and sitting on the couch watching TV, and all of a sudden, it was nothing else but—it went kaboom!" said Tom Andersen. "I mean, a loud explosion."
"I came outside, seen paper flying everywhere," said John Andes.
The house that exploded was completely leveled. The side of a neighboring house was scorched. Newton said he believes the adjacent property is repairable.
Firefighters had to keep their distance.
"The main thing we don't want to get anybody hurt, right?" said Crestwood fire Chief Jonathan Newton, "and putting our people inside of the basement, what's left of the basement, it's too much of a dangerous situation."
An excavator was brought in to remove the debris safely and find the body.
Neighbors remembered the man killed in the blast, who had lived in the house since the early 1990s.
"Poor guy," Andersen said. "He was an older guy who lived by himself."
"It's awful. It's horrible. I mean, my prayers go out to the family. You know, how devastating," said O'Keefe. "I mean it's just, you're here one second, you're gone the next. I mean, it was that fast."
While Newton said all the signs he saw at the scene pointed to a gas explosion, the official cause of the explosion and fire remained under investigation late Thursday. Nicor was at the scene, and gas was shut off to the property.
Nicor crews were also seen going throughout the neighborhood, making sure no additional lines were compromised. Neighbors were looking for reassurance after the deadly explosion.
"That was one of the concerns I had," said O'Keefe. "If his house blew up, what about our houses?"
"Too close," added Andersen, "too close for comfort."
The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was assisting with the investigation.
Firefighters spent some time walking the wreckage searching for hotspots, but by 4 p.m., there was no more smoke rising from what was left of the house.
